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Oregon marijuana petitioners plan to turn in 145,000 signatures Thursday to make November ballot

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An initiative to legalize the recreational use of marijuana appears headed to the November ballot. Sponsors say they have gathered 145,000 signatures and will turn them in Thursday.
(Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian)

"We've gathered about 60,000 more than necessary, so I can say we're confident we'll qualify" for the November ballot, said Peter Zuckerman, a spokesman for the group. The measure needs 87,213 valid signatures from registered voters to go before voters at the general election.

The initiative effort has been largely financed by several major out-of-state donors and received key help from the New York-based Drug Policy Alliance, which also drafted the 2012 marijuana legalization passed by Washington state voters.

The Oregon measure would allow possession of up to eight ounces of marijuana at home and one ounce in public, although smoking in public would be prohibited.

Sales of the drug would be regulated by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission and tax revenues would be distributed among schools, police and programs dealing with drug prevention and treatment and mental health.

Oregon already has a medical marijuana law and this year began allowing sales to patients with a medical marijuana card out of storefront dispensaries.